Ask our nutritionist!

Ask our nutritionist!

ASK OUR NUTRITIONIST

In every issue of our Pet’s Delight Magazine our in-house nutritionist, Sam, answers questions sent in by our customers. Have a question? Email Sam on nutrition@petsdelight.com or contact us on social media @PetsDelight.

Question from @delhikahero23 on Instagram

What's the solution for French Bulldogs rashes?

Answer:

Allergies are not necessarily influenced by a dog’s gender, size, breed or age but some breeds seem to be more susceptible to both food and environmental allergies, like bulldogs.

Learning to recognize the signs of an allergic reaction will help your Frenchie enjoy a healthy life.

Food allergies

In order to determine if your Frenchie is allergic to a specific food, try an elimination diet. Remove any potential food allergens from your dog's diet for 7-10 days and see if the symptoms subside. If they do, slowly add items back into their diet until you find the culprit. It might be the meat that your pup is eating, for example, so if he’s on a chicken based food try switching him to lamb or fish and see if you notice any change.

If that doesn’t work, and symptoms are escalating, your pup may require a physical examination that includes blood and urine tests. Or, it might be an environmental allergy.

Environmental allergies

Dogs can also be affected by environmental allergies much like humans. Topical ointments prescribed, or over-the-counter, will help heal the scabs or open wounds on your dog’s skin caused by irritation, as well as reducing the irritation itself. Your vet might also prescribe other medications, so it’s best to check with them.

Question from @iceycoolit on Instagram

What food should you add or remove for a Maltese puppy who has tearstains?

Answer:

Changing your dog’s food is a good idea to help treat tearstains, which a lot of pet parents don’t know. Dog foods that contain corn have an impact on the bacteria found in your dog’s saliva and tear ducts, which causes the tearstains. The bacteria spread easily, so if your dog wipes his eyes or mouth and then touches somewhere else on his body, the bacteria are distributed. The FishDogs White Fish recipes don’t contain corn and have been proven to help reduce tearstains, so it would be a good idea to give this food a try.

Question from @talesbycoco on Instagram

I have a Shihtzu and want to know how often we can give wet food?

Answer:

Many dogs prefer wet food as it tends to be more flavourful and resembles meat and meat by products more than dry alternatives. Wet dog foods contain significantly higher moisture content than dry kibbles, which can be important for dogs with urinary tract conditions, or dogs that don't tend to drink enough water on their own. You can feed wet dog food every day if you wish, or just as an occasional treat – just make sure you look for a Complete recipe to ensure he’s getting the nutrition he needs.

Question from @charlotteg1bbs on Instagram

My dog sometimes goes days without eating - is there something wrong? 

Answer:

A temporary loss of appetite in your dog is not something to become immediately concerned about. Just like us, dogs are sometimes not hungry or else some stress in their day has caused them to lose interest in food. However, a more prolonged loss of appetite in your dog is a serious sign that something is wrong. It’s unusual for a dog to refuse more than one or two meals and this can indicate anything from depression to disease. Sometimes a stressful situation or an upset stomach can be to blame, but these things are often resolved within a day. If more than 48 hours go by with your dog still refusing to eat, take them to the vet immediately.

Here are some tips to encourage your pet to eat:

1. Warm the food up.

2. Offer strong smelling foods.

3. Try different brands of pet food.

4. Try hand feeding.

5. Check your dog's nose is clean (the smell of food may help stimulate their appetite)

Question from @abood_dxbfitness on Instagram

Why my Maltese doesn't socialize and always panics from noises?

Answer:

What Causes an Anxious Dog?

Dogs can become nervous or anxious for many reasons. Sometimes it’s obvious what is causing your dog’s reaction, but sometimes it’s not. In that case, you can often detect what is triggering their abnormal behaviour through trial and error or by paying close attention to when their body language is indicating that they are nervous. 

Dogs can become anxious for different reasons. Three specific types of anxiety are separation anxiety, former rescue (or shelter) dog anxiety, and illness-induced anxiety. A dog can also have general anxiety.

Dog breeds prone to general anxiety include:

• • German & Australian Shepherd
• • Labrador Retriever
• • Vizsla
• • Border Collie
• • Shorthair Pointer
• • Cocker Spaniel
• • Bichon Frise
• • King Charles Spaniel
• • Greyhounds
• • Havanese
• • Many toy breeds

Try your best to develop a consistent schedule and creating a predictable environment to help your dog if he is generally anxious.

I am always here to help you with your pet’s health and nutrition, feel free to call or Whatsapp me on 0521916961 or email me on nutrition@petsdelight.com